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Watts are delighted to welcome back Daryl Skelton

29/01/2018

Watts are delighted to announce that Daryl Skelton has come back to work with us after 4 years. He has re-joined us as a Director and is now part of our Bristol team. Time for a good catch-up:

What made you return to Watts?I previously lived in Yorkshire and worked in the Leeds and Manchester offices. Following the arrival of a young family, I left Watts to relocate to my wife’s home county of Gloucestershire. I always enjoyed the workload and the working environment at Watts, and I was excited by the opportunity to re-join a well-respected and professional team.

For those who don’t know you yet, please tell us a bit about your career so far.I graduated in 2001, and worked for the Building Surveying department of a large international architectural practice for 3 years. Whilst I gained a thorough experience of Design & Specification and Contract administration, I was not gaining enough experience for my APC and there was very little graduate support. Consequently, I joined Watts Leeds office in 2004 and found graduate support was much more proactive, allowing me to become chartered in 2005.In return for the support I received during my APC, I have acted as an RICS APC Doctor/Mentor since 2005, an RICS APC Assessor since 2012 and an RICS APC Assessment Panel Chairman since 2017. I also occasionally assist the RICS Regional Training Advisor with APC workshops and seminars.In terms of workload, the early part of my career was heavily focused on project work, whilst in last 10 years I have mainly undertaken on Dilapidations, Technical Due Diligence, Neighbourly Matters and Expert Witness instructions.

How will your new role at Watts be different?The business, and indeed the market place, have changed significantly since I was previously employed by Watts, presenting the need to be even more proactive in identifying new opportunities and in adding value for our clients. Many aspects will be similar, such as maintaining the high standards of service which clients expect from Watts.

Which Watts project that you worked on previously do you remember the most?I managed a portfolio of surveys and inspections for a Local Authority within Greater Manchester during 2008/9, including the inspection of all corporately owned stock and all primary schools. I remember this the most because a) it took over a year to complete and b) I had to abandon a school inspection as my wife went into labour!

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?We have two children and two dogs and we are lucky to have the Cotswolds on our door step, so we are often walking or cycling. I’m also spending a lot of time on DIY at the moment following a house move last year. At the bottom of the list I enjoy tinkering with an old VW Beetle which I’ve owned for 25 years.

Tell us a fun fact about yourselfHaving grown up in rural Lincolnshire, I recently fulfilled a childhood dream by driving a farmer friend’s combine harvester during the wheat harvest. I was only supposed to be there for half an hour but ended up driving until 1am. As my friend says, “If the weather’s right, go all night!”